Illegal Pakistani workers can now register with consulate

The Pakistani Consulate yesterday began the registration process for Pakistanis who wish to seek relief in the grace period given to illegal workers.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has granted people who have run away from their sponsors (haroob), overstayed their Umrah or Haj visa, free visa holders, and those who do not work for the person who sponsors their iqama a three-month period in which they can legalize their status in the country.
“Almost 300 people registered themselves on Saturday,” said Consul General Aftab Khokhar. “Those with haroob cases and who have trouble transferring their iqama to their current employer are mainly applying for registration. Our labor does not know the law here, so we want to help them,” he said.
The aim of the registration program is to collect the data of the Pakistani workers who came under the jurisdiction of the three-month grace period and are looking to go back home. The consulate will also help those who want to transfer their iqama and comply with the requirements under the Saudi law.
Khokhar said the consulate would try to solve the problems of the Pakistani workers with the mutual cooperation of Saudi government and provide facilities to them according to the Saudi law.
“Our first priority is to legalize those who want to work and stay in the Kingdom. We will study their cases and try to solve their problems. For that we have started to compile a database. Those who want help must come forward and fill out the registration form,” he said.
The consulate has already received an offer for the employment of Pakistani workers but it can not proceed without their accurate information.
The consulate's welfare wings have increased their manpower to help distressed workers.
The consulate’s welfare section has begun the registration at room No. 2, located at the first floor of their office. The registration will be done from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The service will also be available to Pakistanis living in other cities of the Kingdom.
The registration form, currently available in Urdu, is free of cost and is available at the consulate website and its Facebook page. The form can also be submitted through fax on 00966-2-6606275 or e-mailed at [email protected] or [email protected].
According to the consulate, the registration process will continue for three months and applicants will be contacted in due course.